October 4, 2023

The aviation environment is visually complex and three-dimensional. This environment can include poor visibility, rapid changes in visual contrast (day and night), and the extensive use of colours. Think of all the colour coding used on maps, on instruments and at airports. The visual targets are small and moving. And there is a plethora of information provided in small print...

What are the visual requirements for flying, set by the Civil Aviation Authority?

October 4, 2023 / SMILE

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The aviation environment is visually complex and three-dimensional. This environment can include poor visibility, rapid changes in visual contrast (day and night), and the extensive use of colours. Think of all the colour coding used on maps, on instruments and at airports. The visual targets are small and moving. And there is a plethora of information provided in small print...
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What happens when your vision after laser vision correction surgery is not what you expected?

September 20, 2023 / SMILE

CLAPIKs contact lenses
Laser vision correction surgery is very accurate, but it isn’t always ‘perfect’. With every procedure, there is a small risk your visual outcomes will be less than expected. At the Wellington Eye Centre we invest in the latest technology and follow the most stringent suitability requirements to help reduce the risks and to increase the chance you will have a...
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Laser Eye Surgery for Sports

August 15, 2023 / SMILE

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Many New Zealanders take part in sporting activities. Whether it’s at school, as part of a professional team or as a recreational activity, Kiwis are renowned for loving sports. However, most sporting activities require reasonably good vision, meaning that an individual with poor vision may face difficulties when participating. In some cases, wearing glasses or contacts will have no adverse...
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The Evolution of Laser Eye Surgery

April 6, 2023 / SMILE

Wellington Eye Centre theatre
Ophthalmologists have developed many different surgical techniques for refractive vision correction over the past century or so. The basis of the laser eye surgery we know today evolved from these less precise methods of refractive surgeries dating back to the late 1800s. However, it was in the 1980s that the use of lasers was introduced into refractive surgery and the...
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How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost in 2024?

January 28, 2023 / SMILE

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Laser eye surgery continues to increase in popularity as a way to treat long or short-sightedness. But many people want to know – what does it cost? Is it more cost-effective than glasses and contacts? Will laser eye surgery save you money? Laser eye surgery can be an expensive upfront cost, but does the freedom from glasses or contact lenses...
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Where should you have laser eye surgery?

August 24, 2022 / SMILE

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So you are keen to have your eyesight corrected with laser eye surgery, but you don’t live in one of the four major cities? Not sure where to go or which clinic to choose?  Here are a few things to consider when choosing which laser vision correction clinic to go to. Where can I have laser eye surgery? Laser vision...
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SMILE into Summer

November 18, 2021 / SMILE

jandals on beach
At the Wellington Eye Centre, we offer 3 types of laser eye surgery – SMILE®, LASIK and PRK. Each surgery treats slightly different types of eyesight and has its own benefits. It’s important to talk to your Ophthalmologist during the pre-surgery assessments to determine which surgery may be best for you. Laser Eye Surgery Recovery Following laser eye surgery, you...
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What we will be doing at the different Alert Levels

August 18, 2021 / SMILE

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At the Eye Centre our number one priority is ensuring the safety of our patients and our staff. We want to let you know what we will be doing at each Alert Level and what we will be asking you to do as well.  Although we have been very lucky in New Zealand to have very few cases of Covid-19,...
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What we will be doing during Alert Level 2

May 8, 2020 / SMILE

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It looks like New Zealand may have dodged the worst of the Covid 19 bullet, and here at the Wellington Eye Centre we are looking forward to getting back to something approaching normal. However, it has become obvious over the last couple of months that people can carry the virus but have no symptoms. This means that we must still...
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What Can I do to Best Prepare for Laser Eye Surgery?

March 5, 2020 / SMILE

A laptop, phone, coffee and notepad
Laser eye surgery is more popular now than ever. Once you’ve made the first step of deciding to proceed with the surgery, you need to start thinking about preparation. It is a quick and safe procedure, but even the smallest operations require some planning. Something as simple as asking someone to drive you home in advance will help to make...
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Recovery After Laser Eye Surgery

February 20, 2020 / SMILE

Man sitting on wharf looking at mountains
So, you’ve made the decision to have laser eye surgery? Congratulations! This quick and safe procedure can save you years of being inconvenienced by glasses or contact lenses and the challenges of having poor, unaided vision. Any laser eye surgery procedure – PRK, LASIK or SMILEⓇ – is painless and fast, taking less than 5 minutes per eye. So, even...
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Risks and Complications of Laser Eye Surgery

October 31, 2019 / SMILE

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Since the first laser eye surgery was performed in 1987, millions of people across the globe have undergone the impressive procedure. With constantly evolving technology and increasingly sophisticated techniques, the surgery is more popular now than ever. Despite the growing interest, one of the most common misconceptions about laser eye surgery is the level of risk involved. We’ve previously debunked...
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